Plain English Meaning
The different choices a pilot could make to handle a situation. Each choice leads somewhere different, so the pilot has to weigh them and pick the best one.
Full Definition
In scenario-based training, the set of possible decisions or responses a pilot can choose from when faced with a situation in flight. Each course of action represents a distinct path forward, with its own likely outcomes, risks, and trade-offs that the pilot must evaluate before committing.
Context Anchor
Seen in scenario-based training, decision-making discussions, and instructor-led questions about how a pilot should respond to a developing situation.
Derivation
From the Latin 'cursus' meaning 'a running' or 'path,' combined with 'action,' meaning 'something done.' A 'course of action' is literally 'a path of doing' — the route you take to handle a situation.